There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
The original waterproof strap back in the '60s & '70s, and were original equipment on many dive watches including the Rolex Submariner. If you specified your Submariner without the bracelet, this is the strap you got from Rolex.
If it is not a Bestfit Swiss Tropic ... " IT IS NOT A TROPIC strap "
Tropic straps were made by Bestfit also known as Bestfit Tropic in Switzerland during the 1960s and 1970s. The originals were labeled "TROPIC” and marked “SWISS MADE” and were usually fitted with an “INOX” ("inox" from French "inoxydable") or “ACIER” (steel) signed buckle.Tropic straps were mounted on Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Bulova, Seiko [62MAS was originally paired with a Bestfit Swiss Tropic], Citizen, Enicar... etc etc etc ... They were labeled “Tropic” and the lug width was added. "MOD DEP" that stands for "Modèle Déposé" which did say that the design was registered and protected. The reference no. was also visible on one end. They are made from a very pliable rubber for a comfortable wear. A "dry out" process often led to broken straps.
Since 01.16.2012 Tropic is a registered trademark for Synchron Uhren Manufaktur GmbH, Mauerbachstrasse 40,1140 Vienna, AT (Isofrane, Aquadive, Barhyscape).